5 Ways to Fix Default Apps Missing on Windows 11
Pankil is a Civil Engineer turned freelance writer. Since his arrival at Guiding Tech in 2021, he delves into the world of how-tos, and troubleshooting guides for Android, iOS, and Windows. Besides his new-found love for mechanical keyboards, he’s a disciplined footfall fan and loves international travel with his wife.
Fix 1: Repair Missing Apps
If Windows 11 is only missing one or two apps, such asMicrosoft Storeor Photos, you can try repairing those problematic apps to see if that helps.
Step 1:Press theWindows key + Ito open the Settings app and head toApps > Installed apps.
Step 2:Locate the app you want to repair. Click thethree-dot menuicon next to it and go toAdvanced options.
Step 3:Scroll down to the Reset section and clickRepair.
If the problem persists, you can also Reset the app from the same menu. Note that this will remove all the app data.
Fix 2: Reinstall Apps Using PowerShell
If repairing the app doesn’t work, you can useWindows PowerShellto reinstall all the default apps on your PC. Here’s how.
Step 1:Click the search icon on the taskbar, type inwindows powershell, and clickRun as Administrator.
Step 2:Paste the following command in the console and pressEnter.
This might take a while. Wait for the process to finish and then restart your PC. Your default apps will appear again.
Fix 3: Try Clean Boot
There’s a chance that a recently installed program or a third-party service running in the background is interfering with Windows. So, if the issue remains even after reinstalling default apps, you can boot your PC in a clean boot state.
Step 1:Press theWindows key + Rto open the Run dialog, type inmsconfig, and pressEnter.
Step 2:Under theServicestab, mark the box that readsHide all Microsoft servicesand clickDisable allbutton in the bottom-right corner.
Step 3:Switch to theStartuptab and clickOpen Task Manager.
Step 4:In the Startup tab, select a third-party program and clickDisableat the top. Repeat this step to disable all third-party apps and programs.
Restart your PC to boot Windows without third-party apps and services. Check to see if you can find your default apps. If this solves your problem, then you’ll need to remove any recently installed apps or programs individually to fix the issue.
To boot in normal mode again, use the above steps toenable all Startup appsand services, and then reboot your PC.
Fix 4: Create a New User Account
If the default apps are still missing, there could be an issue with your user account. In that case, you can create a new user account by following the steps below.
Step 1:Press theWindows key + Ito launch the Settings app and head toAccounts > Family & other users.
Step 2:Under Other users, click theAdd accountbutton.
Step 4:ClickI don’t have this person’s sign-in informationand follow the on-screen instructions to create a new user account on Windows.
After that,sign in with the newly created user account, and your missing apps will appear again.
Fix 5: Reset Windows 11
Lastly, if none of the above solutions work, you’ve no option but to reset your PC. Thankfully, you can reset Windows 11 without losing any of your personal data. However, this process will remove your installed apps and reset all the system settings.
Step 1:Press theWindows key + Ito launch the Settings app. In theSystemtab, go toRecovery.
Step 2:Click onReset PC.
Step 3:SelectKeep my filesand then follow the on-screen prompts to finish resetting Windows 11.
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Last updated on 26 July, 2024
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